mmark14

I am in the process of booking our first safari (July/August 2009) and could really use the advice of the knowledgeable posters on this forum.
The following is an itinerary we love, but need to find a way to reduce the cost, so I am looking for your suggestions!
Here goes:
Jack's Camp - 3 nights
Selinda Reserve - 2 nights
Little Vumbra - 2 nights
Mombo - 3 nights
Victoria Falls - 2 nights

An alternate itinerary replaces the 3 nights at Jack's camp with two nights at Chitabe and does reduce the cost a bit.
Jack's camp and the Makgadikgadi pans both sound like something I don't want to miss. Also, it seems that Mambo has such an amazing reputation.
As experienced travelers to Botswana,what would you give up/change to make this adventure more affordable? Is Mambo really worth it? Should I leave out the pans? What would Chitabe add that would be different from everything else?
Thank you for all your help!
Marcia

sniktawk

I think you should check on what you are likely to see at Jacks Camp at this time of year.

bevor

Please don't give up Jacks! I know it is terribly expensive, but it offers experiences you can't find elsewhere in Africa. We spent two nights there in May 2007, and it was truly a highlight of our journey. At Jack's, it's not about the wildlife -- it's the whole Jack's experience. You will never regret spending the money.

Beth

PredatorBiologist

Some suggestions:

1) see if you can replace Jack's with San Camp. I believe you can do all the same activities and are still based right at the edge of the Pans but for about $350 pppn less.

2) Replace Selinda with Savuti Camp or Duma Tau. Game vieiwng is similar and outstanding throughout the entire Selinda/Linyanti region and I think the newly upgraded Selinda Camp (and Zib for sure) cost a good bit more than Savuiti and Duma Tau.

3) Drop a night at Mombo and add a night at Little Vumbura. Little Vumbura offers much more activities with night drives, motor boating, mokoro while Mombo does one thing, drives during the day. Considering little Vumbura is your only place for water activities and yet is an outstanding area for game drives I would spend more time there at the cheaper rate and drop a night from any of your other camps which are currently all more expensive.

4) I'm sure it is the cheapest part of the trip but I would drop Victoria Falls in a heartbeat for a single night at any of those choices. I did go to the Falls on my first safari and they are spectacular but for me I would much rather be on safari.

atravelynn

I stayed at San Camp in August and it was lovely. Since then it has been upgraded to the level of Little Vumbura. I think the view was better than Jack's and it was smaller, which I consider a plus. Activities are identical. All that for less money.

What will you see in the pans? Very likely the meerkats! If your experience is typical, it is prolonged viewing at close range. A unique highlight. Also you can walk with bushmen; ride quad bikes on established trails where you are not ripping up the environment, which was my concern; find remnants or ancient tools and weapons; maybe see the rare brown hyena; experience the vast emptiness of the desert and pans; and probably see ostrich, kudu, many mongoose, maybe some jackals. Different from all the other spots and if you head there first, you won't notice there is much less wildlife because you have nothing to compare it to.

I wouldn't trade Jack's (or San) for Chitabe and I loved Chitabe. The Makgadikigadi Pans are unique and beautiful, even in the slow game viewing months such as July or Aug.

What would Chitabe add? Perhaps a good chance to see wild dogs, plus overall decent wildlife. Of my 8 days there, 4 were outstanding and 4 were fair, if you don't count the dog den, which provided an outstanding visit each day. You also could sleep out in one of their walking trails hides, either wallking to/from or driving. That was excellent.

July/Aug is the best time to see denning wild dogs. You might have a shot at Selinda, Duma Tau, or Savuti as well.

I agree with Predator about Selinda for cost reasons in his #2 suggestion. I was at Zib before the upgrade and have been at Duma Tau. I think you are paying more for accommodations now in Selinda. Too bad.

I would agree with his #3 suggestion if the cost is getting out of hand and you plan to do water activities.

Is Mombo worth it? That's the approx. $1500 per night question. It no longer is for me because of that price. I think it is still great game viewing, though down a notch from its extremely diverse days of old. If you'll always wonder what you missed, that has a price tag too.

If you really wanted to save you could swap Chitabe for Mombo. Even though they are near each other, I saw more wildlife at Mombo, though, back when it was not premium priced.

On a first trip to Botswana and perhaps an only trip to Southern Africa, I certainly understand the 2 nts at Vic Falls. It makes for a well rounded trip and I can see why you want to go there. But like Predator, I am thinking where I might add those 2 nights in wildlife viewing locations.

You'll have a fantastic time.

mmark14

Thank you for your responses and input so far. I know it is not the "season" for the pans, but I think we would really enjoy the landscape and the meerkats. Predator, you gave me a lot to think about and I appreciate the advice.
I will look into Savuti and dropping a night at Mombo in favor of Little Vumbra. Atravelynn, you read my mind--I was hesitant to switch to San camp only because I got the feeling there was a big difference between Jack's and Sans, but I stand corrected.
I know I have to make a decision very soon to get the camps we want even though this trip of a lifetime is 14 months away.
I really appreciate all your valuable info.

HariS

mmark14,

You have a good trip scheduled! From your list - you have a lot of popular camps and places. Had a great time at some of them on your list (although besides Selinda, it was not a recent visit). You have great suggestions from the others ...... If you are truly into the game viewing, my 2 cents would be to avoid two night stays - so, if that means shorter safari or longer stay at certain places that would be more ideal .....

Cheers
Hari

HariS

PS: I am a little biased towards the Linyanti region - so my suggestion would be an absolute three night minimum - 4 would be fantastic also! whatever your camp choice turns out to be........

skimmer

Marcia,

If you want to reduce costs I would definitely skip Mombo and replace it by a cheaper alternative like f.e. Chitabe.

For me the main attraction of chief's island (Mombo/Chief's camp) has always been the numerous predator sightings. I can't say that nowadays Chief's island is best for that.
Of course there is a chance to see rhinos (especially white) but would all this justify the current price???
I know it's heavily marketed in the States and although an excellent camp I found it overrated these days (like all the premium camps).

At Chitabe, when it came to predators I have always had good gameviewing and some of their guides are excellent (Phinley/Newman).

Recommended time of stay: 3 days or more

Driving in the vumbura area that time of year can be tricky due to the height of the floods. Also you wouldn't see much from the boat/mokoro there. A much better alternative is Xigera
if you want to do activities on the water. If flood levels permitting they go as far as the Sinbira floodplains (on Chief's island). Also you have a chance to see the elusive sitatunga.

Recommended time of stay: 2 days.

In general your chances of seeing some good game are as good in Linyanti (Duma Tau/Savuti) as in Selinda (Selinda/Zib). The first maybe cheaper so I would opt for Savuti(the smallest of the two) if there is still place left.

Because the territory of certain animals doesn't stop at the border of the concession you can be fortunate or not to see certain predators.

Some of them move between Linyanti/Selinda/Kwando.

Anyway, you should be extremely unlucky not to see any and there are always ellies and other plain animals to enjoy.

Recommended time of stay: 3 days or more


For the pans have a look at their official website:

http://www.unchartedafrica.com/page.php?p_id=1

Their are much cheaper options to do than staying at Jack's camp.

Instead of staying overnight at the Falls, I would opt for a 2 day stay in Chobe and from there I'll go for half a day to the Falls (best in the morning). I would recommend to do a boat cruise on the Chobe. You should see crocodiles/elephants/hippos and lots of birds. Also in Chobe, you have a reasonable chance to see sable antelope.

Best regards,

Johan


Greetings,

Johan

HariS

Johan - you have a good point! Chief's island may be the only place in Bots to hold white Rhino. But, in many places in other countries (mostly SA) you can see them almost as easily as Zebra or buffalo! Certainly, not worth the price point - but, I thought they have huge lion prides at the moment?

sniktawk

Johan,

I like your suggestion for visiting Vic Falls, as it cerainly does not deserve a two night stay. It would however be a good 2 hour drive each way, and whilst in the Chobe area it would be silly not to go on boat ride.

HariS

Ken,

Don't know if I mentioned to you - we are most likely going to hook up for a few days Chobe safari with Jonah based from Kasane. Probably somewhere in the heat of October! Can't wait!!!

Londonres

I enjoyed seeing Victoria Falls, but one visit is enough. However, I would happily go again and again to the place where we stayed near Livingstone - The River Club. This is an Edwardian style house set in lovely gardens. You stay in luxury chalets overlooking the Zambezi River, with views of hippos and crocs below and great birdwatching in the gardens. We had sundowner cruises on the river and included a game drive in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, to see rhino.

mmark14

After reading your postings, I gather it might be best to opt for Chitabe instead of Mombo, San in lieu of Jack's, and Savuti instead of Selinda if it is less expensive. I will check this out with my travel agent (African Adventure) tomorrow. hopefully, this will put us within budget.
Johan, I do have another question. You mention that we could visit the Falls from Chobe. I did read about that in A&K's brochure. What camp would you recommend there? I don't believe Wilderness Safari has a camp in that area.
Thanks,
Marcia

Londonres

Wilderness Safaris run River Club, but it's definately not a camp.

jweis

As a great alternative to River Club, I urge you to consider Toka Leya... it's just inside the western edge of Mosi-Oa-Tunya park and it just opened.

Can't wait to go there myself.

James

Dana_M

mmark14,
You have been given great ideas. I was at Duma Tau last July and the gameviewing was fantastic. I believe game viewing at Savuti should be very similar. Game viewing at Chitabe was also excellent.

skimmer

Marcia,

I would opt for one of the less expensive lodges in Chobe like Chobe Safari lodge.

http://www.chobesafarilodge.com/rates.html

To me it doesn't make sense to pay big money and see what everyone else is seeing there.

Hari,

Although Mombo has some big lion prides around, I don't find the lion sightings exceptionnal there. Of course there is always a bit of luck involved ...
but I still think the best place for seeing lions in action at the moment (in all of Africa) is Duba Plains.

If those big prides kill something at night, it mostly will be finished by the morning and you see them resting or sleeping afterwards.

Greetz,

Johan

CarlaM

I stayed at Chobe Safari Lodge in Dec 05 (in the safari room)and the rooms were really nice overlooking the river. I would love to go back when the herds of eles are there. You can see a few of my photos here:
http://www.pbase.com/carlam/chobe_na..._&page=all

mmark14

Thanks for the photos CarlaM. I love the hippos! I will definitiely look into Chobe Safari Lodge. My itinerary does need some adjustments, but with everyone's help here, I just might be able to see everything on my Botswana wish list and stay within a reasonable budget---
Armed with my list of all your suggestions, I will call my travel agent in the A.M.
Then, I'll probably be back here again for more advice---thanks again
Marcia